Chapter 464 Going Back into the Mountains to Hide
Xiao Youyou was quickly approaching her first birthday, already adept at using her large, grape-like eyes to stare at her mother, accusing her of not holding him.
Ye Shenge's greatest joy each day was watching her son toddle towards her, holding onto the edge of the bed. Even when he fell, he would only laugh, which would then provoke the child to cry, leading to Ye Mama scolding.
In the past few days, Chen Tangtang hadn't brought Xiao Hehe to play at their house either, as she was pregnant with their second child and was confined to bed, vomiting.
Luo Xueli had also just become pregnant and was being doted on by her entire family, forbidden from leaving the house.
Zi Yisheng found his son utterly annoying, but since he could now be left entirely to his own devices, he began planning to abandon his son and take his wife on a trip.
Ye Baba and Ye Mama were overjoyed and saw them off at the door. It was their dream to exclusively dote on their grandson.
The couple didn't drive, nor did they bring anyone along. They packed a bag and prepared to embark on a good long trip with a letter of introduction.
While they were enjoying their travels, the Shang family stirred up a bloody storm in Mingcheng, further complicating the already chaotic situation.
Zi Yisheng had to return to Mingcheng ahead of schedule, and Ye Shenge was sent back to the Bai Rong Brigade.
As they parted, Zi Yisheng held his wife tightly, reluctant to let go. They might not see each other for a year.
"Be careful with everything."
"Take care of yourself and the child. I'll come to pick you up and bring you back to Mingcheng as soon as possible."
Ye Mama was quite surprised to see her daughter return alone. Before she could even ask what was happening, she saw Ye Baba and her son also packing their luggage.
"What in the world is going on? Why is everyone leaving?"
When she saw Ouyang, Gong Wentao, and Asen arrive with their luggage, Ye Mama didn't ask any further questions, knowing that something truly serious had happened.
Ye Shenge silently retrieved a large quantity of the medicinal powder she had made from her space. She couldn't help in any other way; this was all she could do.
Ye Mu'en hugged Xiao Youyou tightly and kissed him several times, not forgetting to ruffle his sister's hair.
"Be careful with everything. I've left A Can and the other three to protect you. Absolutely do not go out carelessly."
"I understand. Be safe."
Ye Shenge watched the departing figures. Although she had no idea what had happened or what the future held, she knew the times were changing, though she couldn't tell if it was for better or worse.
The people of the Bai Rong Brigade also sensed this, but no one dared to ask. The Ye and Bai families had become even more low-key, not even lingering in the village outside of work.
Ye Shenge also returned to her maiden home with her child, and even A Can, Wei Liu, Wei Jiu, A Rong, and Min Hang moved into the Ye family's house.
The Ouyang family of three also moved into the Bai family's home, effectively combining the two families into two households.
In Mingcheng, Zi Yisheng's return undoubtedly caught many off guard, let alone the reinstatement of Ye Baba and Ye Mu'en to their official positions.
The darkness before dawn began to spread first from Mingcheng, and even the black market came to a complete halt.
As soon as night fell, Xiao Youyou would cry, wanting his father, driving Ye Shenge to distraction. She could only hold him and walk around the courtyard.
This situation continued for two months. It seemed as though Xiao Youyou suddenly forgot about his father's existence, but he became even more attached to his mother.
Just as Ye Shenge was normally holding her son and practicing walking in the courtyard, a wave of dizziness washed over her, her vision went dark, and she lost consciousness.
When she woke up again, she saw Ye Mama's slightly joyful expression.
"My daughter is awake. Are you thirsty?"
Ye Shenge felt weak all over, likely having a guess.
"Am I pregnant again?"
"Yes, you've been pregnant for two months. You didn't even notice your period was missed, living in a daze every day."
Ye Shenge smiled with a pale face. She had truly forgotten. It seemed she had conceived when they went out to play.
"Where's Xiao Youyou?"
"A Can took him to your maternal grandmother's house."
Ye Shenge touched her flat stomach, feeling a little helpless.
"What a time to get pregnant. Now there are three pregnant women in the family."
Ye Mama was genuinely happy. What she wanted most was for her daughter to have another granddaughter, and then everything would be perfect.
"Indeed, all three of you are pregnant at the same time."
Ye Shenge fell silent for a moment, thinking of the child's father struggling in Mingcheng.
"Don't tell the child's father I'm pregnant. I don't want him to worry and rush back."
"Okay, I've told A Can and the others. They can't help, and it would only be a burden to them."
However, Zi Yisheng received the news of his wife's pregnancy immediately because A Can and the others dared not conceal it.
Zi Yisheng was more worried than happy. Standing by the office window, he watched the people hurrying by outside and sighed heavily in his heart.
"Leader, I heard that Shenge is also pregnant?"
Ouyang worried about his sister-in-law at home every day, especially since his wife's second pregnancy had been so difficult.
"Yes. Send some more people back."
"But all our people have been dispatched; we're really short-handed."
Zi Yisheng was terribly vexed. He shouldn't have been so passive. It was all because the Shang family was causing too much trouble. Although he could catch them off guard, they hadn't given him time for prior arrangements.
"Notify Cao Siyang and have him arrange for people to be stationed in each brigade to ostensibly inspect their work. Then, have Feng Zhanhe transferred back to the county office. Tell him that if anything happens at home, I'll make sure he never leaves Anming County."
"Yes, I'll arrange it immediately."
When Feng Zhanhe received the call, he felt deflated. He had thought that Young Master Zi would immediately transfer him back to Mingcheng, but not only did he not return, he was also demoted.
"Captain, are you really going back? But what about the cases I'm handling?"
"Hmph, what about them? Forget them."
When Cao Le received the news, he was ecstatic. He felt his opportunity had arrived. He quickly reported to his superior and then swiftly arranged for many people to be sent down to each brigade.
Old Fan prescribed two months of miscarriage-preventing medication for his young apprentice again. This time, the apprentice's pregnancy was very unstable, and she had to rest in bed.
Xiao Youyou was also very sensible, sitting by the bed every day to accompany his mother, not forgetting to stuff his beloved teething toy into his mother's mouth.
"Xiao Youyou, say Mama, Mama."
"Mama!"
Xiao Youyou called out, drooling. The bib around his neck had to be changed every hour.
Days passed like this. A Can and the other three suddenly started keeping watch at night. Ye Shenge noticed but didn't ask for specific details, yet her worry grew stronger.
Ye Shenge insisted on staying in bed for two months, only getting up to move around after both her masters confirmed the pregnancy was stable.
Xiao Youyou could already walk without being supported, though he would fall after a few steps. But he didn't cry at all and instead smiled with his eight-toothed mouth.
"My grandson is going to be a strong man, not at all pampered like other children."
Ye Shenge wanted to roll her eyes. Her mother was always comparing Xiao Youyou to children from her past life, yet in the village, all children grew up crawling on the ground, and no one cared if they cried.
"Yes, yes, your grandson is the most amazing."
Xiao Tiantian, now, besides the mandatory two hours of character recognition time enforced by Min Hang, acted as a big sister.
Ye Shenge watched Min Hang reading under the eaves, occasionally checking on the two children's movements.
"Min Hang, how is Xiao Tiantian learning?"
Hearing her sister call her name, Xiao Tiantian knew to turn her head to look, at least showing more reaction to specific people.
When Min Hang mentioned Xiao Tiantian, his face lit up with pride.
"Xiao Tiantian is actually very bright. Although she doesn't speak, she can write down the characters I teach her every day. I'm also using writing to guide her, and perhaps she'll be able to communicate through writing even if she never speaks."
Ye Shenge was genuinely impressed by Min Hang's patience. Such a child, even with many biological parents, might not receive as much patience as Min Hang provided.
"Have you considered adopting Xiao Tiantian as your goddaughter?"
Min Hang visibly paused for a moment, then smiled and shook his head.
"I haven't thought about a goddaughter, but I've considered adopting Xiao Tiantian as my daughter. I was even thinking of putting her on my household registration, but I just haven't figured out how to bring it up with you all."
Ye Shenge was quite surprised. Adopting a goddaughter and adopting a daughter were entirely different matters, with significant differences. To put it bluntly, if Min Hang were to die accidentally one day, an adopted daughter would have inheritance rights.
"Have you thought it through?"
"Of course. I'm not planning to get married. If I adopt a daughter, I'll at least have an heir. If I'm no longer around one day, the money I leave behind can ensure Xiao Tiantian has a comfortable life forever."
"Min Hang, you don't need to always feel guilty about Xiao Tiantian."
Min Hang, however, smiled and shook his head again.
"I've been taking care of Xiao Tiantian for over three years now. I've long considered her my own daughter. As for guilt, it's impossible to say there isn't any, but it's definitely not the reason I want to adopt Xiao Tiantian."
Ye Shenge nodded. She was very happy for Xiao Tiantian but knew that Mo Lin would be a hurdle.
"You should ask Mo Lin to agree first. If he has no objections, then we'll agree to transfer Xiao Tiantian's household registration."
Min Hang recalled Mo Lin's stubborn personality and felt a headache coming on, rubbing his head and sighing.
"He's the most difficult one to deal with."
Ye Shenge decided not to interfere further. If Mo Lin agreed, it would be a miracle.
Now, Ye Mama helped Zhen Yi cook, as their family had five more men to feed. They needed a whole pot of rice every day.
A Can and the others helped with washing and preparing vegetables, but today Ye Shenge noticed something different. Wei Jiu was leaning by the door, looking outside, and A Can seemed eager to sit by the gate and pick vegetables.
"Has something happened?"
When Ye Shenge asked, A Can opened his mouth but didn't know how to answer.
"Sometimes being ignorant makes one more passive. Speaking out can help with early prevention."
A Can glanced at A Rong, as A Rong was their leader, and everything depended on his decision.
Min Hang also closed his book, his expression grave.
"Speak up. I'm not useless, and my fighting skills are no less than Brother Zi's."
A Rong looked at everyone staring at him, his lips twitching. He didn't know how to explain.
"Brother Rong, please speak. I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it later if I don't know."
A Rong threw away the water from his hands, took the washed vegetables into the kitchen, and sat next to Min Hang.
"This morning, Cao Siyang's people sent word that he's under investigation. And Feng Zhanhe was suddenly sent on a business trip."
Ye Shenge's mind raced, and her heart tightened.
"You mean something happened to Zi Yisheng!"
A Rong lowered his head. If Young Master Zi hadn't had an accident, how could someone reach this far?
"I haven't received any news from Mingcheng for a week."
Min Hang stood up and paced. He refused to believe his friend couldn't overcome those people.
"That's impossible. Brother Sheng must have been delayed by something."
Ye Shenge's face was grim. She touched her bulging belly, swallowing all her worry. Her mind worked rapidly as she looked towards the deep mountains in the distance.
"A Rong, immediately arrange for us to enter the mountains. We'll stay where we stayed last time. No matter what happens, hiding is the best help we can give to the child's father."
"Are you afraid they'll send people to attack us?"
"Not afraid, but certain. The greatest threat to the child's father is me and the children. And my father, my brother, even Ouyang, all the threats are together."
A Rong also stood up quickly and nodded at A Can and Wei Jiu.
"We'll go up and pack first, then move some food supplies."
"No need to pack too much. The child's father and I already stocked some there earlier, just in case of an accident."
In reality, there was no stock, but the child's father had indeed used this excuse to cover for the space before. Besides, with dozens of people, how long would it take to move grain?
Ye Mama had been listening intently, and upon hearing this, she stopped cooking.
"I'll go and inform your maternal grandmother and the others right away."
"Yes, have them put anything they can't carry in one room. Even if they have to abandon things, it shouldn't delay us going up the mountain.
Also, have your cousins escort the elders and pregnant women first, as they walk slower. The rest will be responsible for carrying things."
"Okay, I understand."
Ye Mama knew that her daughter intended to stay behind to put important items into her space.
Grandpa Bai heard the news and waved his hand, directing his wives to quickly prepare some dry rations. It would take them a day to reach the mountain, and they needed food to replenish their energy on the journey.
Ye Mama and Grandma Bai went into a room to quietly discuss valuable household items. Most of the Bai family's assets were already in Ye Shenge's space, but the personal belongings of a few aunts had been returned.
"I understand. We'll have Shengge keep them all, just like last time. I'll tell your aunts later."
Luo Xueli was still confused. She didn't know what danger they might encounter, but she obediently took the most valuable small box from her home and handed it to Grandma Bai.
"Grandma, please help me keep these safe."
Grandma Bai was afraid of scaring her pregnant granddaughter-in-law, so she smiled gently.
"Xueli, don't be afraid. We're just going up the mountain to hide for a while, and everything is arranged on the mountain. We're just changing where we live."
"Yes, I'm not scared!"
But Luo Xueli's hand on her belly betrayed her, yet Grandma Bai didn't offer further comfort.
Grandma Bai looked at her granddaughter-in-law, who was nearly seven months pregnant, with a mixture of heartache and worry.
"What if Xueli can't come down the mountain after giving birth?"
"Then she'll give birth on the mountain. With both masters there, there won't be any accidents."
"Alas, that's the only way. Who knows what major events will happen down the mountain."
They finished packing everything by three in the afternoon. Most of the villagers were still working in the fields, so they didn't all move out together. Instead, they walked into the mountains in pairs, as if taking a stroll.